BoxRec

DAZN Exclusive: Paul Butler in talks to face Naoya Inoue next - He can't be undisputed without me

Paul Butler is ready to go to Japan to face Naoya Inoue.

Paul Butler has revealed to DAZN that he’s in negotiations to face Naoya Inoue before the end of the year. The WBO bantamweight champion was massively impressed with the Japanese star’s stunning knockout win over Nonito Donaire, but his focus immediately switched to being in the opposite corner to Inoue at some point in 2022.

An undisputed showdown between the 118lb rulers would see all four belts on the line with Butler more than ready to travel to Japan for the daunting showdown. No stranger to boxing at the highest level thanks to two world title reigns, Butler admits that facing Inoue would be a step up from the competition he’s accustomed to.

“We’re ready to go. I’d pack my bags tomorrow” said Butler when speaking to DAZN on the prospect of challenging Inoue. “He’s the fighter that’s number one in my weight class but that doesn’t mean I’m not a huge fan of his. How couldn’t you be? I’ve been in with a few world class fighters, but Inoue is just something else.

“Talks have been had about an undisputed fight and Inoue’s team want the fight to happen next before he looks on moving up, so that means this year. Undisputed is everything to him and he can’t do that before he fights me. I’m desperate for the fight and I’m going to go over there and give it everything I’ve got because that’s what it’s going to take to beat a fighter like Inoue.”

Butler by first round knock out

Perhaps the least needed ‘Who Wins’ thread in Boxrec history?

Thanks for spoiling the fight against Donaire for those that wanted to watch later

Biggest mismatch in Undisputed history. Butler will get a nice pay day thou.

Already being discussed.

Would be great to get Inoue over here, but will probably be in Japan.

This will be the most one-sided undisputed fight since Crawford-Indongo..

Mind you, on paper, i don't think it was as one-sided as the fight turned out to be.

Yeh it’ll be like Curry/McCrory or Nunn/ Kalambey, two early blow out unifications, but both were seen as close matchups beforehand ..

Glass Joe wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 10:04 Biggest mismatch in Undisputed history. Butler will get a nice pay day thou.

100% correct

The question should be like that: 'On which minute of the first round Inoue knocks Butler the f@ck out?'.

Inoue gives him an absolute spanking.

Who's put Butler via KO/Decision?

Is that from you who WANT him to win? Rather than believe he will actually win?

Tesco Joe will price him out

But if he doesn't, Butler gets done brutally in the first round.

Mismatch but I'm all for fighters being undisputed, in this day and age of multiple titles it's the best way to gauge who the man is

handsofstone wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 14:16 Mismatch but I'm all for fighters being undisputed, in this day and age of multiple titles it's the best way to gauge who the man is

It’s not his fault that Butler is the remaining champion.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 14:22

handsofstone wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 14:16 Mismatch but I'm all for fighters being undisputed, in this day and age of multiple titles it's the best way to gauge who the man is

It’s not his fault that Butler is the remaining champion.

Exactly I would've loved to have seen Inoue lay Casimero to waste but hey ho, I used to be high on the Butler train, maybe this is my last chance of #redemption

Inoue wins in typical fashion, but if Butler somehow pulls off a miracle....biggest upset in British boxing history !

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 12:43 Who's put Butler via KO/Decision?

Is that from you who WANT him to win? Rather than believe he will actually win?

I put Butler KO for a laugh, glad to see there’s two others

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑07 Jun 2022, 15:24 Inoue wins in typical fashion, but if Butler somehow pulls off a miracle....biggest upset in British boxing history !

Might be bigger upset in Japan than Tyson - Douglas

Let's not waste time on this, just buy buttler a nice house, have good drs at the event, and send the lamb to the slaughter.

Credit to Paul if he takes the fight, i hope he gets a big payday. He has literally zero chance to win unless Inoue is sick or handicapped somehow. Maybe he can fight with one arm and give Butler a chance.

now that would be interesting, who wins, a one armed inoue or paul butler

would still have to go with inoue

tbf to pauly, i thought he boxed well last fight, but he'll obviously be in way out of his depth. still, as the last piece of the undisputed puzzle, the fight makes sense. i think its a shame that inour wasnt just a bit smaller and roman/jfe/sor etc a bit bigger, so we couldve gotten those fights

Shame inoue has to compete in such a mismatch to unify but it is what it is, get it done quick and move on.

If Fulton unifies in his next fight, which he is looking to do, then inoue should move up to 122. Two unified champs.

Lots of ifs and buts, very doable though.

What a cracking fight that would be. Very impressed by Fulton, must already be in cusp of p4p top ten, and would be much bigger man.

You'd have preferred Butler to be an earlier piece of the undisputed puzzle but if they get it on soon I'll be happy, Butler probably akin to Indongo who Crawford obviously beat to become undisputed

Inoue didn’t break a sweat.

This fight should take place in the next 60 days..

I think you guys are being a little bit harsh to Butler.
I went back and checked his records and the Tete stoppage was ages ago. 7 years and Butler went 8 rounds.
Sure, the odds are he would get stopped, but surely he can last out a while.